FC United eased their way into the second qualifying round of the FA Cup with a 5-0 dismantling of Cammell Laird at Gigg Lane on Sunday afternoon, a result which is United’s biggest victory in this competition.

Lee Neville opened the scoring for United and was joined on the score sheet by Jerome Wright and Mike Norton; who bagged himself two, as well as an unfortunate own goal to complete the one sided score line.

The game didn’t start off so one sided as the visitors looked to set up with nine men behind the ball looking to frustrate the Reds, and at times within the first 25 minutes you wondered if United would be frustrated all afternoon.

During this time United had lost of possession but found the two deep lying banks of players difficult to break don, coupled with some robust challenges from the visitors it took United a while to get a footing in the game.

Indeed, it as the visitors who could have taken the lead as substitute Charlie Anderson (who replaced the injured captain Kyle Jacobs early on) lost his footing and let Jamie Henders through on goal, Anderson got back well but Henders still managed to get his shot away and force a good reaction save from Jon Worsnop.

Just before the half hour mark United found a way through the Cammell Laird defence as Jerome Wright slipped in a ball for Lee Neville who showed some of the frustration United had felt in the opening period as he slashed the ball past Josh Molloy in the visiting goal to put United a goal up.

The home fans didn’t have to wait long to see that lead doubled as a cross form the right saw Matthew Wolfenden challenge Molloy for the ball, but both men missed the ball and it found Jerome Wright who fired United two goals up in the space of five minutes.

With two goals in the bag the visiting team had to change their game plan in order to get something from the game, but from this point on without being disrespectful to the visiting team it was always going to be a case of how many United would score and not if they would win.

Mike Norton went close just moments later but couldn’t get his head to the ball, but Norton did get his goal just seconds before the break as the visiting defence gave the ball away cheaply to Wolfenden, who dribbled the ball into the right of the box before lofting a ball to the far post. Stephen Johnson nodded the ball back across the box towards Norton who doesn’t miss opportunities like that and United were 3-0 up.

There was a buoyant mood as United left the field at the end of the first half and this carried on right at the start of the second half as they came back onto the field looking to add to their lead straight from the off.

There was touch of good fortune to United’s fourth, but there was some good work from Stephen Johnson on the right flank as he easily beat his man and put a dangerous ball across the box to Norton. The ball was a difficult one for defender Michael Grogan too deal with as he had United’s hit man breathing down his neck and unfortunately for him he ended up turning the ball into his own goal.

United didn’t rest on their laurels and pushed on to try and get a fifth, with lots and pressure and a few good opportunities which included an acrobatic effort from Norton which just went over.

They eventually got the fifth that their second half domination of possession deserved when substitute Carlos Roca found Norton in the box who put the ball away to score his ninth goal in the competition for the club.

The remaining 20 minutes were played out much like a training session with United keeping the ball for large parts and just easing their way over the line to seal their spot in the second qualifying round for the fourth successive season.

Margy’s men now await Monday’s draw and in the meantime look forward to keeping the momentum going as they face a familiar foe in the form of Nantwich Town at Gigg Lane next Saturday.

Website man of the match: Mike Norton - The striker led from the front and got himself a couple of goals which could have easily been a hat-trick had Grogan not turned the ball into his own goal.

Report by Craig Phillips.

Match Report

FC United eased their way into the second qualifying round of the FA Cup with a 5-0 dismantling of Cammell Laird at Gigg Lane on Sunday afternoon, a result which is United’s biggest victory in this competition.

Lee Neville opened the scoring for United and was joined on the score sheet by Jerome Wright and Mike Norton; who bagged himself two, as well as an unfortunate own goal to complete the one sided score line.

The game didn’t start off so one sided as the visitors looked to set up with nine men behind the ball looking to frustrate the Reds, and at times within the first 25 minutes you wondered if United would be frustrated all afternoon.

During this time United had lost of possession but found the two deep lying banks of players difficult to break don, coupled with some robust challenges from the visitors it took United a while to get a footing in the game.

Indeed, it as the visitors who could have taken the lead as substitute Charlie Anderson (who replaced the injured captain Kyle Jacobs early on) lost his footing and let Jamie Henders through on goal, Anderson got back well but Henders still managed to get his shot away and force a good reaction save from Jon Worsnop.

Just before the half hour mark United found a way through the Cammell Laird defence as Jerome Wright slipped in a ball for Lee Neville who showed some of the frustration United had felt in the opening period as he slashed the ball past Josh Molloy in the visiting goal to put United a goal up.

The home fans didn’t have to wait long to see that lead doubled as a cross form the right saw Matthew Wolfenden challenge Molloy for the ball, but both men missed the ball and it found Jerome Wright who fired United two goals up in the space of five minutes.

With two goals in the bag the visiting team had to change their game plan in order to get something from the game, but from this point on without being disrespectful to the visiting team it was always going to be a case of how many United would score and not if they would win.

Mike Norton went close just moments later but couldn’t get his head to the ball, but Norton did get his goal just seconds before the break as the visiting defence gave the ball away cheaply to Wolfenden, who dribbled the ball into the right of the box before lofting a ball to the far post. Stephen Johnson nodded the ball back across the box towards Norton who doesn’t miss opportunities like that and United were 3-0 up.

There was a buoyant mood as United left the field at the end of the first half and this carried on right at the start of the second half as they came back onto the field looking to add to their lead straight from the off.

There was touch of good fortune to United’s fourth, but there was some good work from Stephen Johnson on the right flank as he easily beat his man and put a dangerous ball across the box to Norton. The ball was a difficult one for defender Michael Grogan too deal with as he had United’s hit man breathing down his neck and unfortunately for him he ended up turning the ball into his own goal.

United didn’t rest on their laurels and pushed on to try and get a fifth, with lots and pressure and a few good opportunities which included an acrobatic effort from Norton which just went over.

They eventually got the fifth that their second half domination of possession deserved when substitute Carlos Roca found Norton in the box who put the ball away to score his ninth goal in the competition for the club.

The remaining 20 minutes were played out much like a training session with United keeping the ball for large parts and just easing their way over the line to seal their spot in the second qualifying round for the fourth successive season.

Margy’s men now await Monday’s draw and in the meantime look forward to keeping the momentum going as they face a familiar foe in the form of Nantwich Town at Gigg Lane next Saturday.

Website man of the match: Mike Norton - The striker led from the front and got himself a couple of goals which could have easily been a hat-trick had Grogan not turned the ball into his own goal.